Adjustable Scraping Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A scraping apparatus including an adjustable handle and a scraper component is disclosed. The adjustable handle includes a first elongated element having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and a second elongated element. The second elongated element includes an upper portion, which is capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element from the lower end portion of the first elongated element. The scraper component is removably attached to the upper end portion of the first elongated element of the adjustable handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a scraping apparatus, and, more particularly, to an adjustable scraping apparatus for varying the range of application of the scraping apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A scraping apparatus is devised and utilized for the purpose of scraping and cleaning dust, debris, water, snow and/or ice from various surfaces including a floor of a room, a bed of a vehicle such as a dump truck or a pick-up truck and windshields or windows. The scraping apparatus heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of scraping and cleaning surfaces is known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations. Although presently existing scraping apparatuses fulfill their particular objectives and requirements, these existing scraping apparatuses have numerous limitations.

The existing scraping apparatuses ordinarily have a fixed length handle and a scraper head. While using these scraping apparatuses for cleaning and scraping a surface like a bed of the dump truck or the pick-up truck, a person may need to climb onto the bed of the truck for cleaning and scraping. The climbing process of the person onto the bed of the truck for cleaning and scraping purposes makes the cleaning and scraping process slow and inconvenient. Further, these existing scraping apparatuses generally have a hard surface of the scraper head that may damage or scratch the bed of the dump truck or the pick up truck. Also, the existing scraping apparatuses are not capable of adjusting length of the handle depending on the height of the person using the scraping apparatuses.

Therefore, based on the foregoing, there is need for a scraping apparatus, which has an adjustable length of a handle of the scraping apparatus. Further, the scraping apparatus should also provide a scraper head capable of scraping and cleaning without damaging or scratching a surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a scraping apparatus configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a scraping apparatus capable of providing an adjustable length of a handle that can adjust the reach of the scraping apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a scraping apparatus with a scraper component that is capable of scraping and cleaning without damaging or scratching surfaces.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention provides a scraping apparatus including an adjustable handle and a scraper component. The adjustable handle includes a first elongated element and a second elongated element. The first elongated element has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. The second elongated element includes an upper portion capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element from the lower end portion of the first elongated element. The scraper component is removably attached to the upper end portion of the first elongated element of the adjustable handle.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a scraping apparatus including an adjustable handle and a scraper component. The adjustable handle includes a first elongated element and a second elongated element. The first elongated element has an upper end portion, a lower end portion and includes a plurality of openings between the upper end portion and the lower end portion. The second elongated element includes an upper portion. The upper portion of the second elongated element includes a detachable coupling means capable of selectively attaching to at least one of the plurality of openings between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the first elongated element. The scraper component is removably attached to the upper end portion of the first elongated element of the adjustable handle.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a scraping apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a scraping apparatus, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a first elongated element of the scraping apparatus of FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular scraping apparatus, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Referring to FIG. 1, a scraping apparatus 100 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The scraping apparatus 100 is capable of scraping and cleaning dust, debris, water, snow and/or ice from various surfaces, like a floor of a room, bed of a vehicle, such as a dump truck or a pick-up truck and windshields or windows. FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the scraping apparatus 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The scraping apparatus 100 comprises an adjustable handle 102 and a scraper component 104.

The adjustable handle 102 includes a first elongated element 106 and a second elongated element 108. The first elongated element 106 may be made of materials such as metal, plastic and alloys. The first elongated element 106 has an upper end portion 110 and a lower end portion 112. In one embodiment, the first elongated element 106 is cylindrical in shape. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the first elongated element 106 may also be configured as an elongated polygonal structure.

The second elongated element 108 may be of a cylindrical shape and includes an upper portion 114 and a lower portion 116. The second elongated element 108 is capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element 106. The second elongated element 108 may also be configured as an elongated polygonal structure, in case the first elongated element 106 has a corresponding polygonal structure. The second elongated element 108 may be made of at least one of a metal, plastic, alloy and the like. The upper portion 114 of the second elongated element 108 is capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element 106 in a manner such that the lower end portion 112 of the first elongated element 106 is received into the second elongated element 108. Accordingly dimensions, more specifically, diameter of the second elongated element 108 is larger than diameter of the first elongated element 106 for receiving the portion of the first elongated element 106 within the second elongated element 108.

A person ordinary skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is capable of adjusting the length of the adjustable handle 102 appropriately during the cleaning or scraping process by receiving the first elongated element 106 into the second elongated element 108 up to a desired length. Further, the present invention provides arrangements in the upper portion 114 of the second elongated element 108 and the first elongated element 106 such that the portion of the first elongated element 106, which is received in the second elongated element 108, may be interlocked with the second elongated element 108. For example, the upper portion 114 of the second elongated element 108 may include a keyway (not shown) in which an eccentric key (not shown) is rotatably mounted to selectively lock and unlock the first elongated element 106 and the second elongated element 108. In another embodiment, the first elongated element 106 and the second elongated element 108 are selectively locked and unlocked as shown in FIG. 2 and described in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the scraping apparatus 100 may further comprise a rubber handle 118 in order to provide a grip for handling purposes of the scraping apparatus 100. The rubber handle 118 may be configured over the lower portion 116 of the second elongated element 108.

The scraper component 104 is removably attached to the upper end portion 110 of the first elongated element 106. The scraper component 104 is used for the scraping and collecting dust, debris, water, snow and/or ice from any surface. The removable attachment of the scraper component 104 to the upper end portion 110 of the first elongated element 106 may be achieved using various attaching means, such as screws, nuts and bolts, clips and the like. In one embodiment, the scraper component 104 may have a first cylindrical portion having internal threads and capable of meshing with external threads disposed on an outer surface of the upper end portion 110 of the first elongated element 106. Further, the scraper component 104 may be made of sturdy polyurethane plastic enabling scraping and cleaning without damaging or scratching the surface to be cleaned.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a scraping apparatus 200 is shown, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The scraping apparatus 200 is capable of scraping and cleaning accumulations of dust, debris, water, snow and/or ice from various surfaces, such as a floor of a room, bed of a vehicle, like a dump truck or a pick-up truck and windshields or windows. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the scraping apparatus 200. The scraping apparatus 200 comprises an adjustable handle 202 and a scraper component 204.

The adjustable handle 202 includes a first elongated element 206 and a second elongated element 208. The first elongated element 206 may be made of materials, such as metal, plastic and alloy. The first elongated element 206 may be preferably of a cylindrical shape. The first elongated element 206 has an upper end portion 210 and a lower end portion 212 as shown in FIG. 2. The first elongated element 206 includes a plurality of openings 220 configured between the upper end portion 210 and the lower end portion 212.

The second elongated element 208 has an upper portion 214 and a lower portion 216. The upper portion 214 is capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element 206 from the lower end portion 212 of the first elongated element 206. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the dimensions, particularly, the diameter of the second elongated element 208, is larger than the diameter of the first elongated element 206, such that a portion of the first elongated element 206 may be guided into the second elongated element 208.

The upper portion 214 comprises a detachable coupling means 230. The detachable coupling means 230 is capable of being selectively engaged into an opening of the plurality of openings 220 of the first elongated element 206 in order to interlock the first elongated element 206 and the second elongated element 208. The detachable coupling means 230 may be selected from various configurations known in the art including, but not limited to, a screw, a nut and a bolt, an adjustable collar push button and a spring loaded snap lock. In one embodiment, the scraping apparatus 200 further comprises a rubber handle 218 in order to provide a grip for the purposes of handling the scraping apparatus 200. More specifically, the rubber handle 218 may be configured over the lower portion 216 of the second elongated element 208.

The scraping apparatus 200 is represented in FIG. 2 for exemplary purposes only. The second elongated element 208 may also be of an elongated polygonal shape. Further, the second elongated element 208 may include more than one spaced apart detachable coupling means 230. Each of the more than one detachable coupling means 230 may be engaged with the openings 220 at the same time.

The scraper component 204 is similar in configuration to the scraper component 104 described in conjunctions with FIG. 1. The scraper component 204 is removably attached to the upper end portion 210 of the first elongated element 206 of the adjustable handle 202. The scraper component 204 may be removably attached to the upper end portion 210 of the first elongated element 206 through various attaching means including, but not limited to, screws, nuts and bolts, clips and the like. Further, the scraper component 204 may be made of a sturdy polyurethane plastic in order to provide scraping and cleaning without damaging or scratching the surface.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a portion of a longitudinal cross section of the first elongated element 206 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The first elongated element 206 may be of a cylindrical shape or of a polygonal three dimensional shape such as a parallelepiped or a cuboid. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the second elongated element 208 will also be shaped accordingly such that the first elongated element 206 may be guided in the second elongated element 208. The portion of the first elongated element 206 includes an opening 220 as shown in FIG. 3. The opening 220 may be a through opening in a body of the first elongated element 206. However, the opening 220 may also be similar to a cavity in the body of the first elongated element 220.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A scraping apparatus, comprising: an adjustable handle comprising, a first elongated element comprising an upper end portion, a lower end portion and a plurality of openings between the upper end portion and the lower end portion, and a second elongated element capable of receiving at least a portion of the first elongated element, the second elongated element comprising a detachable coupling means at an upper portion of the second elongated element, wherein the detachable coupling means is capable of being selectively attached to at least one opening of the plurality of openings for receiving the portion of the first elongated element in the second elongated element, and wherein the detachable coupling means comprises at least one of a screw, and a nut and a bolt; and a scraper component removably attached to the upper end portion of the first elongated element of the adjustable handle.
 7. The scraping apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a rubber handle configured over a lower portion of the second elongated element.
 8. The scraping apparatus of claim 6, wherein the scraper component is made of sturdy polyurethane plastic. 